adjective
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of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent
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anatomy situated within or peculiar to a part
intrinsic muscles
Synonym Usage
See essential.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of intrinsic
First recorded in 1480–90; Middle English intrinsique “inner,” from Old French intrinseque “internal, inner,” from Late Latin intrinsecus “inward” (adjective), from Latin intrinsecus “on the inside, inwards” (adverb), equivalent to intrin- (from int(e)r-, as in interior + -im, an old accusative ending used as an adverb suffix + secus “beside,” derivative of sequī “to follow”)
Compare meaning
How does intrinsic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The intrinsic qualities of something have to do with its nature. An intrinsic quality of dogs is that they're loyal. Anything intrinsic comes from within. Doing a job for only money is not intrinsic. Doing a job because you love it is intrinsic; the motivation comes from within. It's good to treat people as having intrinsic value. If you like someone for intrinsic reasons, then you have no other motivation. The opposite of intrinsic is extrinsic, for things that come from the outside instead of from the inside.
Vocabulary lists containing intrinsic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "I"
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On top of its potential communicative importance and intrinsic value as a cultural behavior, accumulative stone throwing involves durable primate material culture, the loss of which would constitute the erasure of primate heritage.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026
"That they are still allocating wildcards for them says something to their intrinsic value to the tournaments."
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The point of these splashy redesigns is always to tie back to something more intrinsic to the company, though.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
The program is designed to help students “acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys,” the school said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
It is meant to be looked at and appreciated for its intrinsic value.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
